IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Scrap markets, commonly known as panteka, have resumed operations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), five weeks after the FCT Administration (FCTA) shut them down due to security concerns.

The markets, located in all six area councils of Abuja, were closed on January 14 following a security meeting led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, during which several scrap dealers were arrested.

Leaders of the affected markets confirmed the reopening after discussions with Abuja Market Management Limited and the FCT Police Command.

According to Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, chairman of the Dei-Dei scrap market—the largest in Abuja—market leaders underwent police profiling. As part of the new regulations:

Each market’s chairman, vice chairman, and secretary must provide national identity card details.

They must also present a guarantor, who must be an imam, pastor, or traditional leader.

Market unions are responsible for profiling their members.

Additionally, the Abuja Market Management Limited has taken over security and facility management in the markets. Shop owners are now required to pay N10,000 monthly for these services, in addition to their annual rent. 

The Coalition for Transparency, Equity, and Justice (CTEJ) has urged the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy to address allegations of financial mismanagement under Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

Citing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, the CSO formally requested an explanation regarding the N4 billion reportedly allocated for office rent. The group claims that N3 billion was allegedly paid in installments to a landlord without Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval, with the office located along ICPC Road, Abuja.

Additionally, the coalition questioned:

The minister’s appointment of 50 new aides, calling it excessive.

The dismissal of experienced officials within the ministry.

The appointment of Ahmed Sodangi as Director-General of the National Gallery of Arts (NGA), arguing that his past involvement in Bank of Industry-sponsored exhibitions should not justify his selection.

In response, the Ministry of Art dismissed the allegations. Dr. Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Special Assistant for Media and Publicity, stated that the ministry operates from the Federal Secretariat and has not rented any office space. She also refuted claims of family ties between Minister Musawa and Sodangi and denied the hiring of 50 aides. 

Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, on Friday, faulted the action of his colleague, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over a seating arrangement row in the hallowed chamber. Natasha, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Thursday, refused to use the seat allocated to her, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects the privileges of members.

At the height of the situation, Akpabio called on the Senate security to walk the female senator out of the chambers, but fellow lawmakers’ intervention saved the situation from degenerating out of hand. Reacting to the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by Core TV News, Adaramodu said the upper chamber was not for content creation. “What we are saying is that the National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. National Assembly is for serious business,” he said.

Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District, also weighed in on the bullying allegation of the Kogi senator. “If she is talking like that being bullied or sidelined, as a first-timer, she even had three committees that she was appointed as chairman. “You are entitled to only committee to be the chairman and she is in charge of Foreign Affairs, NGOs now,” the Senate spokesman said. On the possibility of applying disciplinary actions against Natasha, the Senate spokesman said her colleagues from Kogi State, especially Senator Isah Jubril “had already tendered an apology on her behalf.”

He assured that the 10th Senate wouldn’t revisit the issue following the apology on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behalf. “The Senate as a whole has already accepted that tendered apology, so we are not going to revisit that,” Adaramodu stated. 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said the fire outbreak that started on a dry crude storage barge at Cawthorne Channel 1 in Rivers State has been successfully contained.

In a statement on Thursday, NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the incident did not affect the operations of the flow station in the area. “Thanks to the swift response of our emergency teams and industry partners, the fire was successfully contained. The incident did not impact flow station operations,” he said.

According to Soneye, no lives were lost in the incident. NNPCL spokesman also assured the public of its commitment to safety, environmental protection, and operational integrity. “Most importantly, there were no casualties, and all personnel are safe. NNPC Ltd. prioritises safety and remains fully committed to environmental protection and operational integrity,” Soneye stated.

The fire, which broke out at around 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday, began on the BESTAF5 barge and spread to other barges in the area. The Cawthorne Channel is a major hub for oil and gas facilities, situated near the boundary between Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas in Rivers State.

However, quick action by emergency teams and industry partners prevented further damage. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire. 

By Ikenna ONUOHA, Ph.D.

There is an unfolding societal problem that is tactically but gradually destroying futures  and destinies of our youths today. The quest for money is indeed the bane of evil. Sudden billionaires that trended in the last 10 years are no more today, yet our youths are patronizing the evil ways that are capable of shortening their lives! Too bad!!

The quest for money has triggered kidnapping, ritual, armed robbery and killing. This is different from what our forefathers witnessed during their time on earth.

This current trend of "Okeite", the "great pot" can be likened to that dangerous, and notorious "Ara Nwanyi Asaba" saga in the last two decades that almost wiped the youths away from the surface of the earth.

During this period of "Ara Nwanyi Asaba" epistle, interested billionaires were enticed with spreading of clean cash at events by purveyors of the evil debacle. Those attracted to the event of the day were led to Asaba, the capital of Delta State to "suck" the evil breast and thereafter, become wealthy. This actually happened to the interested participants but their lives were snatched by the evil marchants after 2, 3 or 4 years of the transient wealth.

How these purveyors and promoters of the evil money killer do it is what should be unravelled and security agencies are currently on it.

A situation where a child of 16 to 19 years is seen driving different exotic cars, which each of them is not less than 50 million is a style that should be consciously and unconsciously nip in the bud.

This trend of "Okeite" and the defunct "Ara Nwanyi Asaba" ended up killing some of the beneficiaries of the quick wealth after the affluence was enjoyed for just few years. The gift of devil is "give and take", note that the devil does not give without expecting heavily from the beneficiaries.

This practice of get rich quick syndrome is at variance with the custom and tradition of the Igbo race. Why this practice thrive is because some villagers, parents of the beneficiaries and traditional Rulers in various communities including religious leaders give credence, applause, undue recognition and high ovations to these "successful" youths seen cruising in billions with mansions scattered everywhere..

Regretably, on sighting the young idle billionaire, some highly rated monarchs send emissaries to entice the billionaires to accept Chieftaincy Titles. This is to cover up the negative channels through which the ill-gotten wealth was derived.

In the cause of getting rich quick, parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, girl friends, boy friends and the youths have been killed, dismembered and used for rituals. Innocent people are missing on daily basis without trace of their locations simply because someone wants to answer "Agunechemba", Arusi Eji Aka Abuo Apa", "Ahaejiagamba" and so on!

This is vanity upon vanity! It is painful that big names we heard in the last one, two or three decades with raw wealth attach to them are no more today. Reason being that such quick wealth had expiry date, and such expiry date carries grave consequences.

Very pathetic that as a result of the quest to get rich quick through "Okeite or Ara Nwanyi Asaba", some ladies have lost their lives to their supposed suitors, fiancees, boy friends or even husbands, yet those alive, are still fallen to their net. 

Such ladies killed become vulnerable to their suitors, fiancees, boy friends or husbands once the guy begins to pour huge wealth on the ladies. This is because ladies become more glued to guys that spend heavily on them not minding the consequences thereafter.

The immorality today in the society has destroyed the sanctity of morality. There is open confrontation of disrespect to the elders. Little brats no longer accord due recognition to the elders and titled men simply because, the honour and recognition in the transient wealth has decapitated the sense organs of humility.

Badly, this trend of evil is tactically promoted by these elders and titled men still expecting respect and recognition from the little billionaires. A situation where a supposed elder disrespect his fellow elder to recognize the little billionaire is the trigger of the whole social decadence. Things must changed when our Royal fathers, Religious leaders and politicians join hands to restore social sanity.

By so doing, we shall be expecting the society of our collective dreams!

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confiscated a substantial quantity of smuggled petroleum in the first month of 2025. During a series of operations across border towns in Kwara State, customs officials seized 800 jerry cans of 25 litres each, along with a truck carrying 33,000 litres of petrol. The total estimated value of the seized fuel stands at N53 million.

Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, revealed this during a familiarization tour of the Kwara State command in Ilorin on February 17, 2025. He stated that the interceptions, which took place between mid-January and February 15, occurred in various locations, including Baruten, Kaiama forest, Ilesha-Baruba, and Gure border towns.

“This operation is part of our intensified efforts to combat smuggling nationwide,” Adeniyi stated. “The Kwara border with Benin Republic remains a key focus area, and we are deploying senior officers to enhance surveillance and enforcement.”

Adeniyi also highlighted the achievements of Operation Whirlwind, an ongoing anti-smuggling initiative. Key outcomes include the closure of 12 illegal fuel retail outlets, the seizure of 460,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intended for smuggling, and the confiscation of 23 smuggling vehicles and over 8,000 kegs of PMS. Additionally, seven suspects have been arrested, and three marketers are currently facing prosecution for regulatory violations.

Addressing the growing sophistication of fuel smuggling networks, Adeniyi pointed out that despite the removal of fuel subsidies, price differences between Nigeria and its neighboring countries continue to drive illegal fuel trade. “While petrol prices in Nigeria hover around N1,000 per litre, the cost in Benin Republic and Cameroon is much higher—approximately N1,700 and N2,000, respectively. This price gap fuels cross-border smuggling,” he explained.

The Customs chief urged stronger collaboration in tackling smuggling and warned those involved to desist or face strict legal consequences.